GOP Senators Hit New Pro-Business Score

OKLAHOMA CITY – Five Republican senators scored a perfect 100 and twelve scored a 90 or above on the annual legislative scorecard released by the Research Institute for Economic Development.

"The mission of the Institute is to promote economic growth through the evaluation of business, industry and economic growth issues considered by the Oklahoma Legislature," the group says on its web site. "The Institute is non-partisan. We do not lobby issues and we do not endorse candidates."

Overall, Oklahoma Senate Republicans scored an average of 88.6, the highest average in the history of the RIED report, a press release said.

“I couldn’t be more proud of my Republican colleagues in the Senate,” said Senate President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee.  “This is a group of leaders from around the state who reflect their local districts and work very hard and effectively on their behalf.

“They are committed to growing and prospering our state through promoting and passing strong economic policy, and their success in that regard is vividly reflected in the most recent legislative scorecard released by RIED,” he continued.

 Coffee pointed out that the average Republican score of 88.6 is nearly eight times the average Senate Democrat score of 11.9.  In addition, five Republican Senators scored a perfect 100, including Senate Majority Floor Leader Todd Lamb (Edmond), Assistant Majority Leaders Clark Jolley (Edmond) and Brian Bingman (Sapulpa), Education Committee Chairman John Ford (Bartlesville) and Agriculture Committee Chairman Ron Justice (Chickasha).
 
Coffee observed that the highest ranking Democrat on the RIED report scored 41, twenty-nine points below a passing grade.

“Every candidate talks a good game about supporting business and economic development when they’re running for office, but the members of the Senate Republican caucus follow-through with real reforms when given the opportunity by the voters,” Coffee added.  “This is a strong and committed group of public servants, and I look forward to another productive legislative session in 2010.”